
[Transcriber's note: Extensive research found no evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
BY - FRANK W. BLACKMAR
PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS NEW YORK —— CHICAGO —— BOSTON ATLANTA —— SAN FRANCISCO
Copyright, 1926, by CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS Printed in the United States of America
PREFACE
PART I - CIVILIZATION AND PROGRESS
PART II - FIRST STEPS OF PROGRESS
PART III - SEATS OF EARLY CIVILIZATION
PART IV - WESTERN CIVILIZATION
This comprehensive audio tour walks listeners through the rise of human society, beginning with a clear definition of civilization and an exploration of how scholars have measured progress from primitive tools to modern institutions. It emphasizes the need for a connected overview that links ancient habits with today’s social structures, offering a balanced perspective between specialized study and broad understanding. The narrator invites you to consider how each step in our past shapes the world we inhabit now.
The journey then dives into prehistoric times, examining caves, burial mounds, and early settlements to reveal how early humans met basic needs for food, shelter, and safety. It highlights the transformative inventions of fire, simple agriculture, and animal domestication, showing how each breakthrough reshaped daily life and set the stage for later social complexity. Closing each chapter with thought‑provoking questions and further‑reading suggestions, the guide encourages listeners to explore topics that spark their curiosity and deepen their appreciation of humanity’s shared adventure.
Language
en
Duration
~17 hours (1028K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Al Haines
Release date
Dec 6, 2009
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1854–1931
An early American sociologist and historian, he helped shape graduate education at the University of Kansas and became a leading figure in the young field of sociology. His work ranged from social theory to Kansas history, reflecting a wide curiosity about how communities and institutions grow.
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